San Diego International Airport puts carbon offsets on the menu with The Good Traveler program

Airport travelers can offset their flight for as little as $1

Thursday, September 17, 2015

SAN DIEGO – September 17, 2015 – Today, San Diego International Airport (SAN) officially launched The Good Traveler, a pilot program designed to encourage sustainable travel by enabling individuals to offset the environmental impact of their journey in an affordable, easy and meaningful way. Through The Good Traveler program, individuals can purchase carbon offsets and merchandise online at www.thegoodtraveler.org or at select locations, with proceeds going toward conservation projects that help counteract the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment.

For one dollar, travelers can buy a collectible Good Traveler tag or sticker that can be placed on a bag, laptop or phone cover. The purchase will offset 500 miles of air travel or 200 miles of driving, with 100 percent of proceeds going into three projects: a forest restoration project in California, a wind farm project in Idaho, and a water restoration project in the Colorado Delta.

“Since its inception, the Airport Authority has worked to minimize its impact on the environment. That commitment was solidified with the adoption of a formal sustainability policy in 2008. This program is yet another example of that continued commitment,” said Thella Bowens, President/CEO at San Diego International Airport. “Sustainable travel goes beyond the airport, so we look forward to working with our travel, tourism and industry partners to take The Good Traveler program even further.”

In February 2014, SAN became the first U.S. airport to sign the Climate Declaration, a call to action that urges federal and state policymakers to seize the economic opportunity of addressing climate change. To show the airport’s commitment, SAN conducted a review of how to provide its 18.8 million annual passengers the option to offset the impact of their travel. As a result, The Good Traveler program was developed.

To extend the reach of The Good Traveler, SAN is partnering with businesses in the local hospitality and travel industry, including Ryan Bros. Coffee and Paradise Point Resort & Spa. The Good Traveler tags will be offered at the point of purchase to customers and guests as a convenient and simple option to offset their journey.

The Good Traveler program was also designed to be inclusive and fun. An art competition to create a new design for The Good Traveler t-shirt is now underway and will run through October 14. More information is available at art.thegoodtraveler.org.

The pilot program will run through the end of 2015, after which SAN hopes to expand the program to other airports and cities.